This thesis presents the real-time simulation of a realistic-size Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) based High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission system. Based on the concept of time-varying Thevenin equivalent, a computationally efficient model of the MMC is developed and deployed on an FPGA platform. The salient features of the developed MMC model are: (i) The decoupling of the solutions of the MMC model and the of the rest of the system, (ii) it provides an equivalent representation of the full MMC, (iii) it is suitable for parallel implementation. The model is used as part of the simulation of the 401-level France/Spain MMC-HVDC link between, in which 2 separate MMCs are included, showing the expandability of the designed system to larger DC grid scenarios. Hardware in the loop (HIL) testing capabilities of the system are also demonstrated with the addition of an external controller to the simulation system.

This thesis presents the real-time simulation of a realistic-size Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) based High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission system. Based on the concept of time-varying Thevenin equivalent, a computationally efficient model of the MMC is developed and deployed on an FPGA platform. The salient features of the developed MMC model are: (i) The decoupling of the solutions of the MMC model and the of the rest of the system, (ii) it provides an equivalent representation of the full MMC, (iii) it is suitable for parallel implementation. The model is used as part of the simulation of the 401-level France/Spain MMC-HVDC link between, in which 2 separate MMCs are included, showing the expandability of the designed system to larger DC grid scenarios. Hardware in the loop (HIL) testing capabilities of the system are also demonstrated with the addition of an external controller to the simulation system.

Les câbles sont utilisés de plus en plus pour le transport et la distribution de l’électricité en courant alternatif sur des distances de plus en plus longues. La prolifération de fermes éoliennes offshore qui nécessitent d’interconnexions avec le continent a aussi propulsé leur utilisation sous-marine. Modèles de câbles sont disponibles dans le bien connu logiciel Electro Magnetic Transient Program et sont destinés au domaine temporel. Ces modèles sont assemblés en utilisant différentes techniques, mais tous nécessitent une connaissance précise des paramètres des câbles dans le domaine fréquentiel. Dans ce but, pour le calcul des impédances des câbles tripolaires cette thèse propose une méthode qui améliore la prise en compte de la proximité entre tous les conducteurs : il s’agit d’une méthode semi-analytique qui utilise le concept duale de fils minces et sous-conducteurs pour décrire la densité de courant à l’intérieur des conducteurs et le calcul des impédances. L’effet du retour par la mer est aussi analysé et une méthode quasi Monte Carlo est proposé, afin de résoudre les intégrales qui décrivent la formulation des impédances pour le sol à deux couches (la mer et son fond) sur lequel ces câbles sont posés. L’effet du à la présence des couches de semi-conducteur dans les câbles est aussi traité. La méthode de collocation stochastique est aussi décrite et appliquée, afin de prendre en compte la variabilité des paramètres d’entrée. / Cables are extensively used for underground alternating current electricity distribution and progressively over longer distances ; the proliferation of offshore wind farms which require interconnections with the mainland has also increased their use underwater. Models of cables are available in the well-known Electro Magnetic Transient Program software and are designed to the time-domain. These models are assembled using different techniques but all of them need a precise knowledge of the frequency domain parameters of the cables. Accordingly, for the calculation of the impedances of three-core submarine power cables this thesis proposes an improved method to consider the proximity effect between all conductors. The method, which is a semi-analytical, uses the dual concept of thin-wires and sub-conductors to describe the current density inside the conductors and the calculation of the impedances. The effect of the sea return is also analyzed and a quasi Monte Carlo method is proposed, to solve the integrals describing the impedances formulations for the two layer soil (the sea and seabed) upon which the submarine cables are laid. The effect due to the presence of semi-conducting layers in the cables is also treated. The stochastic collocation method is also described and applied, in order to account for the variability of the input parameters.

Over the course of the last decade, IEC 61850 has become the leading standard for electrical substation automation the world over. This thesis presents the work done towards implementing an IEC 61850 sampled values based line protection Intelligent Electronics Device (IED) on a desktop computer. This IED is capable of subscribing, decoding and processing the sampled values published by a source to be used in line protection algorithms. The novel hybrid line protection algorithm implemented in the IED combines a distance protection scheme with a transients-based unit protection method that uses sampled values complying with IEC 61850-9-2-LE. Application of the line protection relay for protecting a series compensated transmission line was examined using hardware-in-the-loop simulations. Results indicate that (i) the implemented algorithms are robust and reliable, and (ii) the class of transients based protection algorithms examined in this thesis can be successfully implemented with IEC 61850 sampled values. / October 2016

M.Ing. / Spoornet currently has a fleet of more than 1500 electric locomotives in service. The majority of electric locomotives are resistor controlled but there are many chopper as well as thyristor controlled locomotives which all incorporate direct current (dc) traction motors. In recent years Spoornet has also bought locomotives employing alternating current (ac) traction motors. Because locomotives are very expensive and the running costs are high it is important that these locomotives must be available and reliable. Most of the newer generation locomotives, which are the semiconductor controlled locomotives, must be in service for at least another 20 years. The availability and reliability are often influenced by delayed design problems as well as problems arising due to changes in the total system configuration. One way of solving these problems, or at least understanding them, is by employing computer simulations. The availability and reliability can also be improved by using new technologies which were not originally employed on the locomotives. By doing computer simulations the optimal solution can be obtained when introducing new technologies on the locomotive. A good example of this type of application within Spoornet is given in [6], where simulation models for high technology locomotives were developed which were suitable to be used in the assessment of electromagnetic compatibility between modern power electronic locomotives and the railway signaling system. However, these models are also suited to be used in other applications. These models make use of the ATP-EMTP simulation program.

The behavior of Deepwater Horizon crude oil and other sources of oil were investigated when exposed to sunlight in aquatic systems under environmentally relevant conditions. This research decoupled the abiotic and biotic weathering modifications of oil by focusing solely on the photochemical transformations of oil in aquatic systems. Photochemical rates and mechanisms were measured through the determination of reactive transients. Total hydroxyl radical formation was studied using high benzoic acid concentrations and varying exposure time. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterials were added to the system in an effort to determine if the photocatalyst would enhance oil photodegradation. Photochemical production of singlet oxygen from thin oil films over seawater and pure water was measured with furfuryl alcohol as a selective chemical probe. The loss of furfuryl alcohol and the formation of 6-hydroxy(2H)pyran-3(6H)-one were monitored. Photochemical production of organic triplets from 6 different compositions of petroleum was measured through the cis-trans isomerization of 1,3 pentadiene in Gulf water. The data correlate very well with previously measured singlet oxygen concentrations. The energies were measured in the range of 280-300 kJ/mol. Macondo Well Oil from the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) rig was mixed with pure water and seawater and irradiated with simulated sunlight. After irradiation, the water-soluble organics (WSO) from the dark and irradiated samples were extracted and characterized by ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). Liquid-liquid extraction yielded two fractions from dark and irradiated water/oil mixtures: acidic WSOs (negative-ion electrospray (ESI)), and base/neutral WSOs (positive-ion ESI). These fractions were analyzed by FT-ICR MS to catalogue molecular-level transformations that occurred to oil-derived WSOs after solar irradiation. The increased abundance of higher-order oxygen classes in the irradiated samples relative to the dark samples indicates that photooxidized components of the Macondo crude oil become water-soluble after irradiation. Time series studies were performed to observe the changes in WSO composition. The predominance of higher-order oxygen classes indicates that multiple photochemical pathways exist that result in oxidation of petroleum compounds. More oxygenated compounds were observed in the WSO acid fraction of oils with higher API gravity.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / The primary objective of this research was to investigate the failures occurring in the family of surge arresters used within EThekwini Electricity, making use of different diagnostic methods, such as leakage current testing (LC), infrared scanning (IR), and partial discharge (PD) measurements. The different diagnostic tests were used to assess the degradation process of the polymer housed surge arresters and their failure. The measurements were used for diagnosis of 120 kV/65 kA surge arresters of different brands. Tests were performed on surge arresters that were still in the system and these test results were compared with results from tests performed on failed units. Results obtained from the different tests were compared to the test results for different families or designs. An imperfect arrester will exhibit excessive heating when an electrical surge is discharged. The aforementioned tenets are the primary factors influencing degradation and causing failure of Metal Oxide Surge Arrester (MOSA) in a system. These factors can decrease creepage and flashover distance on insulation, which could result in a substantial increase in resistive leakage current, (which is a few microamperes in ideal condition), overheating, and PD formation on the zinc oxide varistor element. Therefore, it is extremely important to assess the status of the surge arresters whilst they are in service, firstly so that they can be removed from the system before they fail and, and secondly, to verify their condition, and their ability to effectively protect the substation apparatus. Using infrared inspection, valuable information of condition of surge arresters was obtained, heat inside the surge arresters was detected and this shows that IR analysis can therefore be considered as an additional method to assess the condition of polymer housed surge arresters. It was observed that partial discharge activity is an indication of degradation in arrester varistor. LC test, IR, and PD measurement were valuable in obtaining sufficient information for failure of surge arresters. In additional, during the visual internal inspection of arresters, evidence of punctures, treeing, tracking, and moisture masks were noted on ZnO blocks and seals. These results indicate that the moisture ingress through the sealing collar can cause unnecessary outages. / M

Cette thèse présente les résultats de l'analyse all-sky STAMPAS de recherche de signaux transitoires longs d'ondes gravitationnelles, dans les données 2005-2007 des interféromètres LIGO et Virgo. Les ondes gravitationnelles sont des perturbations de la métrique de l'espace-temps, et les expériences Virgo et LIGO sont conçues pour les détecter. Ces expériences sont des interféromètres de Michelson, avec des bras longs respectivement de 3 km et 4 km, dont la luminosité en sortie est modifiée lors du passage d'une onde gravitationnelle.Jusqu'à très récemment, les pipelines de recherche de signaux transitoires se concentraient uniquement sur les signaux courts, qui durent moins d'une seconde, et sur les signaux de coalescence de binaires. STAMPAS est l'un des tout premiers pipelines entièrement dédiés à la recherche de signaux transitoires longs, qui durent d'une à plusieurs centaines de secondes.Ces signaux sont émis, entre autres, par les instabilités qui apparaissent pendant la violente création des proto-étoiles à neutrons. Les instabilités dans les supernovae à effondrement gravitationnel et celles des disques d'accrétion sont également de possibles sources de signaux transitoires longs. Les coalescences de binaires excentriques de trous noirs sont elles aussi censées émettre de puissantes ondes gravitationnelles pendant plusieurs secondes avant leur fusion.STAMPAS est basé sur la corrélation de données issues de deux interféromètres. On construit des cartes temps-fréquence à partir des données, et leurs pixels les plus significatifs sont agrégés et forment les "triggers" (candidats potentiels d'ondes gravitationnelles). Aucune hypothèse sur la provenance, le temps ou la forme des signaux recherchés n'est formulée.La première analyse effectuée avec STAMPAS a été réalisée à partir des données acquises entre 2005 et 2007 par les deux détecteurs LIGO. Après une sélection rigoureuse des "triggers", l'analyse en a révélé un taux proche du bruit Gaussien attendu, ce qui constitue un accomplissement majeur. Aucune onde gravitationnelle n'a été détectée, et nous avons établi des limites hautes sur les taux astrophysiques de plusieurs modèles de sources d'instabilités de disques d'accrétion et de coalescences de binaires excentriques de trous noirs. Le pipeline STAMPAS a montré qu'il sera efficace dans la recherche des signaux transitoires longs d'ondes gravitationnelles lors de la prochaine génération d'interféromètres. / This thesis presents the results of the STAMPAS all-sky search for long transient gravitational waves in the 2005-2007 LIGO-Virgo data. Gravitational waves are perturbations of the space-time metric. The Virgo and LIGO experiments are designed to detect such waves. They are Michelson interferometers with 3 km and 4 km long arms, whose light output is altered during the passage of a gravitational wave.Until very recently, transient gravitational wave search pipelines were focused on short transients, lasting less than 1 second, and on binary coalescence signals. STAMPAS is one of the very first pipelines entirely dedicated to the search of long transient gravitational wave signals, lasting from 1s to O(100s).These signals originate, among other sources, from instabilities in protoneutron stars as a result of their violent birth. The standing accretion shock instability in core collapse supernovae or instabilities in accretion disks are also possible mechanisms for gravitational wave long transients. Eccentric black hole binary coalescences are also expected to emit powerful gravitational waves for several seconds before the final plunge.STAMPAS is based on the correlation of data from two interferometers. Time-frequency maps of the data are extracted, and significant pixels are clustered to form triggers. No assumption on the direction, the time or the form of the signals is made.The first STAMPAS search has been performed on the data from the two LIGO detectors, between 2005 and 2007. After a rigorous trigger selection, the analysis revealed that their rate is close to Gaussian noise expectation, which is a significant achievement. No gravitational wave candidate has been detected, and upper limits on the astrophysical rates of several models of accretion disk instability sources and eccentric black holes binary coalescences have been set. The STAMPAS pipeline demonstrated its capabilities to search for any long transient gravitational wave signals during the advanced detector era.Keywords: Gravitational waves, Interferometry, Long transients, Signal Processing, Accretion Disk Instabilities, Eccentric Black Hole Binaries.

During this project three distinct methods to improve the data processing of Controlled Source Audio Magnetotellurics (CSAMT) data are implemented and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The methods in question are: Detrending the time series in the time domain, instead of detrending in the frequencydomain. Implementation of a coherency test to pinpoint data segments of low quality andremove these data from the calculations. Implementing a method to detect and remove transients from the time series toreduce background noise in the frequency spectra. Both the detrending in time domain and the transient removal shows potential in improvingdata quality even if the improvements are small(both in the (1-10% range). Due totechnical limitations no coherency test was implemented. Overall the processes discussedin the report did improve the data quality and may serve as groundwork for further improvementsto come. / Projektet behandlar tre stycken metoder för att förbättra signalkvaliten hos Controlled Source Audio Magnetotellurics (CSAMT) data, dessa implementeras och deras för- och nackdelar diskuteras. Metoderna som hanteras är: Avlägsnandet av trender från tidsserier i tidsdomänen istället för i frekvensdomänen. Implementationen av ett koherenstest för att identifiera ”dåliga” datasegment ochavlägsna dessa från vidare beräkningar. Implementationen av en metod för att både hitta och avlägsna transienter (dataspikar) från tidsserien för att minska bakgrundsbruset i frekvensspektrat. Både avlägsnandet av trender samt transienter visar positiv inverkan på datakvaliteten,även om skillnaderna är relativt små (båda på ungefär 1-10%). På grund av begränsningarfrån mätdatan kunde inget meningsfullt koherenstest utformas. Överlag har processernasom diskuteras i rapporten förbättrat datakvaliten och kan ses som ett grundarbete förfortsatta förbättringar inom området.

Um dos problemas que contribui para a diminuição do desempenho de células a combustível de membrana trocadora de prótons é o cruzamento de combustível do compartimento anódico para o catódico. Um método de avaliar o contato do combustível anódico com o cátodo consiste da exposição do catalisador oxidado à molécula de interesse, em condições de circuito aberto. Do ponto de vista fundamental, a análise desses transientes de circuito aberto pode fornecer informações importantes acerca do mecanismo reacional associado. São apresentados nessa Dissertação, resultados da interação entre metanol ou etanol e superfícies oxidadas de paládio, em meio alcalino. Entre os parâmetros investigados, maior ênfase foi dada ao efeito da natureza do cátion alcalino presente no eletrólito. Observou-se que a presença de Li+ ou K+ no eletrólito influencia desde a quantidade de óxido formada, até o tempo requerido para a redução desses óxidos pela molécula orgânico dissolvida. A natureza do composto orgânico presente também exerce diferenças consideráveis no transiente de circuito aberto. Finalmente, foram propostos esquemas reacionais para representar a interação de circuito aberto com o metanol e etanol. Em ambos os casos, os mecanismos incluem a produção auto-catalítica de sítios livres de paládio. / One of the problems that contributes to the performance decreasing observed in proton exchange membranes is the fuel crossover from the anodic to the cathodic compartment. A method to evaluate the contact of the anodic fuel with the cathode consists of exposing the oxidized catalyst to the molecule of interest under open circuit conditions. From the fundamental point of view, the analysis of the open circuit transients may provide relevant information on the associated reaction mechanism. In this Dissertation, results of the open circuit interaction between methanol or ethanol with oxidized palladium surfaces, in alkaline media, are presented. Among the distinct investigated parameters, emphasis will be put on the effect of the nature of the alkali cation present in the electrolyte. It was observed that the presence of Li+ or K+ influences several aspects, from the amount of oxide formed to the time needed for the reduction of the oxide by the dissolved organic molecules. The identity of the dissolved organic molecule also exerts marked influence on the open circuit transients. Finally, two reaction schemes for the open circuit interaction with methanol or ethanol were proposed. In both cases, the mechanisms include the auto-catalytic production of free palladium sites.